The Great Officers of the Crown
Les Grands Officiers de la Couronne

The Great Officers of the Crown were distinguished in their heraldic
achievements by the use of special additaments. This page describes
them, using the Plates from the 18th century Encyclopédie.

Great Officers of the Crown

The chief officers of the king, in charge of war, justice, finance, the
king's household, took early on the title of Officers of the Crown to distinguish
themselves from all other officers. Around the 12th century, the
list of Great Officers settles down to the senechal, constable, chancellor,
butler and chamberlain. The office of senechal was abolished in 1190
because its holders were acquiring too much power. Over the course
of the Middle Ages, kings tried to similarly curb the other officers.
The office of constable was abolished in 1627, other offices were either
abolished or reduced to purely ceremonial posts, left in the hereditary
possession of a family.

In letters patent of 1582, Henri III limited the Great Officers of the
Crown to the connétable, the chancelier, the grand-maître,
the chambellan, the amiral and the maréchaux de
France. But Henri III later added the colonel général
de l' infanterie (1584) and Henri IV added the grand écuyer
and the grand-maître de l'artillerie. Constable and
admiral were suppressed in 1627, although the admiral was recreated in
1669. Sometimes the grand aumônier is counted
in the list.

Traditionally, the Great Officers cannot be removed once appointed.
They are entitled to the style of "my cousin" by the king. Their
powers extend over the whole kingdom, and they preside over the relevant
administrations (corps de l'Etat).

Other officers are merely Officers of the King's Household.

Connétable

The Connétable (Constable in English) was one of the original
five officers of the royal household: the Sénéchal,
Chambrier,
Connétable,
Bouteiller
and Chancelier. The office is a very ancient one, since it
existed in the late Roman Empire (comes stabuli, count of the stable).
After the abolition of the office of Sénéchal in 1191, the
Connétable was the most important officer in the army. His
insign of office was the straight sword, which represented the king's sword
whose care was his. He carried before the king during the coronation
ceremony. The same sword appears, held by a hand issuant from a cloud,
on both sides of his coat of arms.

As first officer of the crown, he ranked in precedence immediately after
the peers. He had the position of lieutenant general of the King
both within and without the kingdom. The constable had under his
command all military officers, including the marechaux; he was also responsible
for the financing of the army. He also administered military justice
within the host (the name of the jurisdiction was the connétablie),
which he exercised with the assistance of the maréchaux (marshals)
of France. This is very much in parallel with the Court of the Lord Constable,
later called curia militaris of Court of Chivalry, which existed in England
at the same time.

The duc de Bourbon betrayed in 1522 and passed to the service of the
enemy of the king of France, Charles V. Since then, kings were careful
in their choice of constable, and did not always replace him. The
office was finally abolished by Edict of January 1627 after the death of
the François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières (connétable
from 1622 to 1627). Thereafter, the role of Connétable in
ceremonies was held by the Doyen des Maréchaux (dean of the
marshals).

Charles, duc de Bourbon (1490-1527), from 1515

Anne, duc de Montmorency (1493-1567), from 1538 to 1567

Henri, duc de Montmorency (1534-1614), from 1593 to 1614

Charles d'Albert, duc de Luynes (1578-1621), from 1621 to 1621

François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières (1543-1626), from
1622 to 1626

Chancelier

The Chancelier was the second officer of the crown (first officer
after 1627). His function was that of head of the administration
of justice. In ceremonies, he sat to the left of the king.
His function was originally to be Keeper of the Seals, and to seal all
royal acts, without which the acts were not valid.

In modern France, his appointment was for life; in fact, he was the
only royal officer in the whole kingdom who did not automatically lose
his office at the death of a king, and did not wear mourning. He
received his commission from the hands of the king directly, before taking
his oath of office. This peculiarity resulted of the trial for forfeiture
of Guillaume Poyet, from 1542 to 1545, during which the king did not want
ot deprive him of his office until proven guilty. In the meantime,
a Garde des Sceaux (Keeper of the Seals) was created, who took over
the actual functions of the Chancelier. The office was formally created
by Edict of 1551The term Garde des Sceaux is still the official title of
the Minister of Justice in the French Republic.

Behind the shield, two silver and gilded maces are placed in saltire,
and the achievement is surmounted by a magistrate's hat or mortier.
Guillaume de Lamoignon was appointed Chancellor in 1750.

Grand Maître de France

Head of the King's Household, to whom all the king's officers swore
oath. His insignia is a staff of gilded silver ending in a crown-shaped
ornament.

Artus Gouffier, comte d'Etampes (-1519), 1515

René de Savoie, comte de Villars (-1525)

Anne, duc de Montmorency (1493-1567), from 1526 to 1558 (also Connetable
in 1538)

François, duc de Montmorency (d. 1579), 1558-59

François de Lorraine, duc de Guise (1520-63) from 1559 to 1563

Henri de Lorraine, duc de Guise (1549-88), from 1563 to 1588

Charles de Lorraine, duc de Guise (1571-1640), from 1588 to 1594

François d'Orléans-Longueville, comte de Saint-Paul, 1594

Louis de Bourbon-Soissons, 1612

Henri de Bourbon, prince de Condé (1588-1646), from 1643

Louis de Bourbon, prince de Condé (1621-86), from 1647 to 1654

Thomas-François de Savoie-Carignan, 1654

prince de Conti

Henri Jules de Bourbon, prince de Condé (1643-1709), from 1660 to
1685

Louis de Bourbon, prince de Condé (1668-1710), from 1685 to 1710

Louis Henri de Bourbon, prince de Condé (1692-1740), from 1710

Louis Joseph de Bourbon, prince de Condé (1736-1818), from 1740

Grand Bouteiller-échanson

The insignia of office are two gilded silver bottles with the arms of
the king.

Grand Panetier

The office is mentioned in the 11th century: this officer of the Royal
Household was in charge of the provision of bread (pain).
Until 1711, he had jurisdiction over the breadmakers of Paris and collected
a tax on them. From the 16th century, this office was hereditary
in the family of Cossé de Brissac: here, Jean-Paul-Timoléon
de Cossé de Brissac (1698-1780), Grand Panetier in 1732.

Below his arms are placed the nef d'or and the cadenat
which were laid next to the king's setting at table.

Grand Veneur

Claude de Lorraine, duc de Guise (1496-1550), from 1526

François de Lorraine, duc de Guise (1520-63), from 1556 to 1563

Charles de Lorraine, duc d'Aumale (1526-73), from 1556 to 1573

Charles de Lorraine, duc d'Aumale (1556-1630), from 1573 to ?

Charles de Lorraine, duc d'Elbeuf (1556-1605), from 1597 (?) to 1602

Hercule de Rohan, duc de Montbazon (c1568-1654), from 1602 to 1643

Henri de Bourbon, prince de Conde (1588-1646), from 1643 to 1646

Louis de Rohan, duc de Montbazon (1598-1667), from 1654 to 1656

marquis de Soyecourt (d. 1679)

François, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1634-1714), in 1679

François, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1663-1728), from 1679 to 1714

Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse (1678-1736), from 1714 to
1736

Louis-Jean-Marie de Bourbon, duc de Penthièvre (1725-93), from 1737
to the Revolution

Grand Fauconnier

Grand Louvetier

Grand Maréchal-des-logis

Grand Prévôt

Capitaine des Gardes de la Porte

Grand Chambellan

Louis d'Orléans, duc de Longueville (1510-37), from 1524

François de Lorraine, duc de Guise (1520-63), from 1551 to 1563

Charles de Lorraine, duc de Mayenne (1554-1611), from 1563 to 1589

Henri d'Orléans, duc de Longueville (d. 1595)

Henri de Lorraine, duc de Mayenne (1578-1621), from 1596 to 1621

Claude de Lorraine, duc de Chevreuse (1578-1657) from 1621 to 1643

Louis de Lorraine, duc de Joyeuse (1622-54), from 1643 to 1654

Henri II de Lorraine, duc de Guise (1614-64), from 1655 to 1658

Godefroy-Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne, duc de Bouillon (1641-1721) from
1658 to 1715

Grand Écuyer

This office became a Great Officer under Henri III. He was customarily
called "Monsieur le Grand." The insignia consists of the king's sword in
its sheath and with the belt.

Roger de Saint-Lary, duc de Bellegrade, 1580 to 1639

Henri Ruzé d'Effiat, marquis de Cinq-Mars, to 1643

Charles de Lorraine, duc d'Elbeuf (1556-1605), from 1597 (?) to ?

Henri de Lorraine, comte d'Harcourt, 1643

Louis de Lorraine, comte d'Armagnc, 1666

Henri de Lorraine, comte de Brionne, 1677 (en survivance)

Charles de Lorraine, comte d'Armagnc, 1718

Louis-Charles de Lorraine, comte de Brionne (-1761), 1752

Charles-Eugene de Lorraine, prince de Lambesc (1751-1825), from 1761 to
the Revolution

Maréchal de France

Originally the assistants of the constable. The title became more
precise in the 16th century, and after 1627 they were the highest ranking
officers in the army. Their number was originally 4 (as recalled
in the Ordonnance of Blois in 1579), but a fifth office was created in
1566 and a sixth in 1574. With Henri IV, no serious attempt was made
to limit their numbers. Only in 1788, when there were 18 (and none
had served in the most recent war, that of American Independence) was it
decided to let the number fall to 12 by attrition.

The insignia is the staff (the real staff was standardized in 1758 to
a length of 21 inches and a diameter of 1 3/8'') covered in blue velvet
and studded with golden fleurs-de-lys. The ends are covered in gold
with the inscription decus pacis terror belli (the ornament of peace,
the terror of war). They are placed in saltire behind the shield.

The title has survived to this day. It was abolished on 21 Feb
1793 but reestablished by Napoleon on May 19, 1804. Napoleon had
16 maréchaux d'Empire, which he also made dukes. At present,
the dignity of maréchal (it is not a rank) is conferred only for
wartime actions (the last four marechaux had served in World War II).

Occasionally, the position of Maréchal Général
des Camps et Armées du Roi was created. In principle they
commanded over the others, but in practice even Turenne and Saxe had difficulty
being obeyed. There were six holders:

Armand de Gontaut-Biron (1524-92)

François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières (1543-1626), in 1621

Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne (1611-75) in 1660

Claude, duc de Villars (1653-1734), in 1733

Maurice de Saxe (1696-1750), in 1747

Nicolas Soult (1769-1851)

Doyen des Maréchaux

The most senior maréchal. His insignia combine that of
maréchal and connétable. He presided over the
Court of Marshals, whose main function was to adjudicate disputes between
gentlemen (one of the jurisdictions of the Court of Chivalry in England
in the 17th century). This court was also called the tribunal
du point d'honneur.

Adrien Maurice de Noailles (1678-1766) was made maréchal de France
in 1734, became Premier Maréchal in 1748 and was made President
of the Court of the Marshals in 1756.

Amiral de France

The office, medieval in origin, was abolished in 1627 but recreated
in 1669. It was given to Joachim Murat under Napoleon, to the duc
d'Angoulême under the Restoration. It remained in existence
until 1870.

There were also other offices: amiral de Bretagne, de Guyenne, de
Provence ou du Levant.

Charles de Montmorency, duc de Damville (c1537-1612), from 1596 to 1612

Henri, duc de Montmorency (1595-1632), from 1612 to 1626

comte de Vermandois (d. 1683), from 1667

Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse (1678-1737), from 1683 to
1737

Louis-Jean-Marie de Bourbon, duc de Penthièvre (1725-93) from 1734
to the Revolution

Général des Galères

Vice-Amiral

Grand Maître de l'Artillerie

Made a Great Officer in 1601 for Maximilien de Béthune, duc de
Sully. Office abolished in 1755.

Colonel Général de l'infanterie

Created under François Ier, this officer ranked immediately behind
the maréchaux and held supreme command over the infantry.
During the wars of Italy, two positions sometimes existed: colonel général
de l'infanterie dela les monts and deca les monts.

It became a Great Office of the Crown for the first duc d'Épernon.

Jean, sgr de Taix c1546

Charles de Cossé-Brissac

Gaspard de Coligny, 1547

François de Coligny, sgr d'Andelot, 1555

Blaise de Montluc, 1558

Charles de La Rochefoucauld, sgr de Randan, 1560

Sébastien de Luxembourg, duc de Penthièvre (d1569), 1562

Timoléon de Cossé-Brissac

Philippe Strozzi, sgr d'Epernay and Bressuire, from 1569 to 1581

Jean Louis de Nogaret, duc d'Épernon (1554-1642) from 1581 to 1642

Bernard de Nogaret, duc d'Épernon from 1642 to 1661

Louis d'Orléans (1703-52), from 1721 to 1730

Louis Joseph de Bourbon, prince de Condé (1736-1818), from 1780

Colonel Général de la cavalerie

Created under Henri II (1548) as an equivalent to the former. Became
an office in 1565. The insignia of office consist of six cavalry standards
(cornettes) with the arms of France.

Colonel Général des Gardes françaises

Created in 1661 after the suppression of the office of colonel général
de l'infanterie.

Antoine, duc de Gramont (1604-78), 1661-71

François d'Aubusson, duc de La Feuillade (1625-91), 1672-92

Louis François, duc de Boufflers (1644-1711), 1692-1704

Antoine de Gramont, duc de Guiche (1671-1725), 1704-17

Louis Antoine Armand, duc de Gramont (1688-1741), 1717-41

Louis, duc de Gramont (1689-1745), 1741-45

Louis Antoine de Gontaut, duc de Biron (1701-88), 1745-88

Colonel Général des Suisses et Grisons

Created under Charles IX (held by Charles de Montmorency, duc de Damville,
from 1568 to 1596), abolished at the Revolution, restored by Napoleon who
appointed Berthier and later Lannes. The comte d'Artois received
the office in 1771 at age 14. This officer commanded over the Swiss mercenaries
which served in the French army from 1516 to 1792. Several Swiss regiments
formed part of the troups protecting the king, and many died on Aug 10,
1792.